This past Monday, October 11, the City of Bainbridge Island celebrated Indigenous Peoples Day with a screening of a documentary film, “Honor Thy Mother”. It is an excellent documentary that tells a unique Bainbridge Island story. Gina Corpuz, the film’s Executive Producer who also organizes Indigenous Peoples Day, describes the film this way: “'Honor Thy Mother' is the untold story of 36 Aboriginal women from Canada and Native women from tribes in Washington and Alaska.” They migrated to Bainbridge Island in the early 1940s to pick berries for Japanese-American farmers. Many of these women had recently been released from Indian residential schools. They fell in love with Filipino bachelor immigrants who also worked the fields. Their mixed-race children, named Indipino, grew up on Bainbridge Island in the post-World War II environment, with mixed racial identity, in low-income households, and poor living conditions. Now, these former children as adults are leaders in their tribes, the Filipino community, and the broader Bainbridge Island community.  

The City Council financially supported the speakers who participated in a discussion following the screening of the film at Bainbridge High School. This documentary helped to spotlight the importance of recognizing and acknowledging Indigenous People. The well-made film also helped to reinforce the creative capacity of the Bainbridge Island community. Bainbridge Island’s celebration of Indigenous People as well as support for the arts are important values to the City Council and reflective of the community.  

“Honor Thy Mother” has been selected to screen at the virtual American Indian Film Festival. Ticket information is available on the event website. 

At the Oct. 19 study session, City staff will present the City Council with refined options and costs for nonmotorized improvements along Eagle Harbor Drive at the Head of the Bay from Finch Road to the shoreline frontage.

The City Council last discussed options for the Eagle Harbor Drive Phase 1 Nonmotorized Improvements Project on April 20. As part of that discussion, staff presented options for shoulders, separated bike lanes and an over-water structure option. After further research into the design options, staff will recommend a fourth option for consideration (shown in photo): a two-way multi-use path that would limit costs and environmental impacts.

The current project, which would include only 5-foot paved shoulders on both sides of the road, is funded at $1.4 million (including $735,000 of federal grants). The recommended project alternative would cost approximately $2 million and would upgrade the design to more closely meet standards for all ages and abilities, while reducing pavement and impacts on adjacent shoreline and wetland areas. The project needs to be completed by 2024 to meet the federal grant obligations.

Nearly 200 native trees and 180 native shrubs were planted this week along the new Sakai Connector Trail. Paving is scheduled for the week of October 18 (weather permitting), and then the trail will be opened for public use.

Please join us for a grand opening celebration on Wednesday, November 3 at noon. We will gather on the new trail at the northwest corner of the High School Rd and State Route 305 intersection.

When completed, this segment of the Sound to Olympics Trail (STO) will provide a convenient connection from the High School Road District at SR305, through the existing trails in Sakai Park, up to Madison Avenue near Ordway School, Commodore Options School, and the Bainbridge Aquatics Center.

On Oct. 12, the City Council reviewed a draft ordinance (Ordinance No. 2021-23), that would encourages development of multifamily affordable housing in Winslow and Lynwood Center in exchange for a partial property tax relief for 12 or 20 years.

The program, known as Multifamily Property Tax Exemption (MFTE), is a financial incentive to encourage development and redevelopment of multifamily and affordable housing by exempting qualifying new housing development from property taxes on the residential improvement value. The tax burden would then be shifted to and divided among other property taxpayers on Bainbridge Island. Washington State law (RCW 84.14) allows local governments to adopt an MFTE program.

In June, the Council agreed to create a future MFTE program available in the Winslow Master Plan Study Area & Winslow Sewer Service Areas, and Lynwood Center Area: NC, NC/R-12 and R-5 zones.

The Council discussion on Oct. 12 centered on the income levels desired for designated affordable housing units in the 12- and 20-year MFTE programs. The Council approved a motion to establish the maximum household incomes housing for the 12-year and the 20-year program at 80% Area Median Income for units designated as affordable. The City Council will continue discussion on the ordinance at the Oct. 26 meeting. Learn more about the MFTE program on the City’s website at bainbridgewa.gov/1291.

The City Council this week voted to ask the Planning Commission to recommend whether or not to extend the City's Housing Design Demonstration Projects (HDDP) program, which is intended to promote the development of projects that increase affordable housing and meet green building certification standards.

On Dec. 10, 2019, the Council approved Ordinance No. 2019-32 to extend the City's HDDP program for two years (until Dec. 31, 2021). At that time, the program was also narrowed to only be available for development projects that provide at least 50% of residential units as affordable housing.

The City has not received any formal development proposals that plan to utilize the HDDP program since the program was extended and narrowed at the end of 2019. The question before the City Council, and now the Planning Commission, is whether the HDDP program is an effective tool to achieve the community's affordable housing objectives.

The Planning Commission is expected to discuss the topic at the Oct. 28 Planning Commission meeting. The Planning Commission recommendation on extending the program would then be provided to the Council for consideration.

The City of Bainbridge Island prepares a biennial budget, which provides a financial plan for two years and is intended to allow both the Council and City administration to set longer-term priorities and plans. The biennial budget cycle also supports efficient operations by minimizing budget development activities in mid-cycle years. The Council approved a budget for 2022 late in the fall of 2020 to which City administration is now proposing modifications for consideration totaling approximately $1.8 million. The adjustments enhance the City’s ability to complete the 2022 work plan that is already in place and responds to Council and community support requests. Some of the highlights include:

Learn more about the 2022 budget modifications in the Oct. 12 Council agenda packet.

The City Council scheduled a public hearing for Oct. 26 to receive feedback on the City’s 2022 property tax levy. This is an annual part of the City’s financial process and is an important step in budgeting, as property tax represents the single largest tax revenue to the City.

Property tax paid by island property owners supports many different taxing jurisdictions in addition to the City. The City of Bainbridge Island receives roughly 9 cents of every dollar of property tax paid by island property owners.  More information is available on the City website, with additional details and property-specific information on Kitsap County's Real Property Tax Distribution tool.

The Council this week directed the City Manager to develop an ordinance that incorporates new recommendations from the Plastic and Waste Reduction Task Force to reduce single-use plastics in both food service and lodging businesses. The task force is recommending to:

The task force is also recommending that the City Council allocate City funds for financial assistance to Bainbridge Island businesses affected by the ordinance in the form of grants to assist with the initial costs of compliance (e.g., for purchasing reusable and/or home compostable disposable food service ware), as well as additional funds for outreach to inform the community and visitors about what to expect and the important policy reasons behind the new regulations. The effective date of the new recommendations has not been determined.

The proposed recommendations support an “immediate action” in the City’s Climate Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with waste generation and disposal.

In June, the City Council updated the City’s municipal code (BIMC 8.24) to only allow single-use food service products to be provided when a customer asks or confirms they would like to use them. The new rules begin Jan. 1, 2022.

Below are some of the topics for the Oct. 19 City Council meeting.

The public is invited to contact members of the City Council to express concerns, questions and praise. Some council members are holding virtual office hours and others are available to meet upon request. Please visit the City Council page for more information on individual City Council members.

The COVID-19 Response Team, consisting of the City, Bainbridge Prepares, Bainbridge Island Community Pharmacy and Bainbridge Island Fire Department, continues to monitor Federal and State updates to COVID-19 vaccination guidance.

We anticipate approval for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen boosters by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), and Western States working group by the end of the month.

The group continues to monitor approvals for 5- to 11-year-olds, and will adjust vaccine clinics as needed to meet the needs of the community.

Our next clinic will be held on Saturday, October 30 at the Commodore Options Lower Gym. We are waiting to determine if this will be a booster clinic or 5- to 11-year-olds clinic, depending on current approvals.

We also anticipate holding clinics on Saturday, November 6 and Saturday, November 20.

Appointments will be posted on the clinic registration page when a determination has been made.

If you are currently eligible for a Pfizer booster, you can call the Bainbridge Island Community Pharmacy to determine availability or make an appointment at Rite Aid or Walgreens. Information on additional vaccine providers is posted online.

If a disaster wipes out the Agate Pass Bridge and suspends the Washington State Ferry service, an emergency flotilla will transport supplies and essential City staff on and off Bainbridge Island. The emergency flotilla, led by Harbormaster Tami Allen, is made up of Bainbridge Prepares volunteers who will use their private vessels to assist when activated.

On Saturday, Oct. 9, more than 20 volunteers participated in an emergency flotilla training exercise. The drill involved boat captains and crew carrying emergency personnel back-and-forth from Suquamish to the Hidden Cove Dock on Bainbridge Island while coordinating with amateur radio operators from Bainbridge Emergency Amateur Radio Service (BEARS). The exercise assumed that the island was cut off from its usual two connections with the mainland: Washington State Ferry service and Agate Pass Bridge.

"All of the participants unanimously said 'Let's do this again!' Everyone learned more than they expected to, and found they have a lot more we want to try out," said Harbormaster Tami Allen who served as Incident Commander for the training exercise aboard the Bainbridge Island Police Department's Marine 8 vessel.

The flotilla still needs more captains and crew. If you’re interested in participating, please email Harbormaster Tami Allen at tallen@bainbridgewa.gov or call 206.786.7627.

The Oct. 9 drill marked the flotilla's first water training exercise since 2008.

The Great Washington ShakeOut is one week away: Thursday, Oct. 21. We will issue a Nixle emergency text message at 10:21 a.m. asking everyone to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On”. Please join us to practice earthquake safety and take some time to update your household preparedness kits.

The Bainbridge Island Downtown Association (BIDA) will host a ‘Hometown Halloween’ event on Sunday, Oct. 31 on Winslow Way.

Winslow Way merchants will pass out treats to masked superheroes, fairies, storybook characters, and more as they descend on downtown for Halloween fun. Winslow Way, from Madison Avenue N to Ericksen Avenue NE, will be open for pedestrians only from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. The event is being held earlier to fit Sunday hours for merchants.

Additional details will be posted soon on BIDA's Facebook event page.